For American-born Jamaican Tarrus Riley, cricket flows in his blood. Even before he could say anything, the Reggae Artiste was visibly excited to catch some action as Uganda’s African champions played out in a duel dubbed ‘Tarrus Riley Cricket Carnival’ at Lugogo yesterday.His attention was undivided at the boundary as he got animated between the beautiful shots played and animated wicket celebrations by the girls. And Riley welcomed the appointment as Uganda Cricket Association (UCA)’s new global brand ambassador.“It is part of me to support young guys and give them a chance and inspiration,” Riley answered when asked on his unrelenting role to lend a hand to several charitable causes across the globe.“Music and sports rhyme along together. It is a good feeling being in Uganda. Watching the girls play makes me feel joy and for the girls to know someone like me is cheering for them makes them work harder to achieve success. Uganda is just like home and I am having the time of my life.”Jazz Safari’s Tshaka Mayanja, whose brand sponsors the Men and Women’s National League for the last five years, said Jazz Safari was intent on promoting talent with a special attachment to women’s cricket. “We are going to be here for long time in the future and Tarrus (Riley), too.

He is willing to lend a hand in whichever way he can. Uganda cricket can bank on him as they continue to strive for success. We urge you to give back in equal measure by turning up in droves for the Swangz Avenue Concert of The Year here on Friday,” said Mayanja.UCA Board Women’s Representative Mary Makumbi handed over to the 39-year-old superstar with a Lady Cricket Cranes cap and jersey emblazoned with No.1 for his new role. And then captain Kevin Awino and assistant skipper Janet Mbabazi presented to him the two trophies Uganda won in United Arab Emirates and Windhoek, Namibia, where they won the African title last year.

With cameras flashing, Martin Ondeko and Justine Ligyalingi shook hands as Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) chairman Bashir Ansasiira watched on.It may have appeared ordinary between two but it carried more weight for the gentleman’s game.That moment at Copper Chimney in Lugogo on Friday officially ushered in Ondeko as new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for UCA for the next three years, replacing his former boss Ligyalingi.

“I feel very excited and honoured to be chosen as the third CEO of UCA, taking over from a gentleman who has seen it all,” Ondeko opened up at his unveiling in company of Ansasiira, Ligyalingi, UCA Board Member Hanumant Katkar and CEO Recruitment Committee representative Elly ‘Sober’ Mukasa.

“Filling his big shoes will be very challenging. But as a person who mentored me, I believe that the foundation you have left behind, we’ll be able to move forward,” Ondeko said of Ligyalingi.Emotional, right? Ondeko had served as the interim CEO ever since Ligyalingi called it quits after eight years of service in February.Before that, Ondeko was UCA Operations Manager, a position he had held since 2013. Prior, the former U-19 batsman had served as Administrative Officer since replacing Allan Ssematimba in 2009.

Turning 33 on July 16, Ondeko becomes the youngest CEO and he must now beat the big weight of expectation from the fraternity. “Increasing commercial value of UCA through bringing in sponsorships as well as growth in performance of both men and women’s national teams will be basis for measurement of my job performance,” he vowed.

Brace yourselves, members of the cricket fraternity! The pick of the tournaments and only Night Cricket event – The Kampala Boys Sports Cricket Club (KBSC) Premier League – Season 5 is here. The annual reloaded showpiece was officially launched on Thursday night at the Cooper Chimney Restaurant in Lugogo infront of a full house of the 16 teams participating teams, officials, organisers and members of the media. The previous seasons have showed that there is no lightweight in this tape-ball cricket format that will be played over 16 overs (preliminary phase) and 20 overs (knockouts) from next Friday (July 28) to September 4 at the home of cricket in Uganda – Lugogo Oval.

Despite the envisaged stiff competition, the franchises will not need any additional motivation to outlast defending champions Pak Stallions after the organisers announced that the stakes were higher this year with the winning team taking home Shs15m and runners up pocketing Shs8m – an increment from Shs10m and 7.5m respectively last season.

“We set the standard pretty high from the previous editions. We want to take it a notch higher this season. We want to keep everyone excited and involved,” said KBSC chairman Tejas, who also disclosed that there would be a tournament within the competition with the teams that don’t make it to the semifinals competing in a Super Over contest.UCA’s Martin Ondeko lauded KBSC for being consistent in their endeavour to promote cricket and promised that the association would continue to support such projects.

There was pre-election controversy over who was supposed to vote on behalf of KICC and whether the constitution was flouted by the late inclusion of Mukesh on the ballot. This prompted outgoing chairman Richard Mwami to swing his powerful willow into action by ‘throwing’ KICC out of the elective assembly till they resolve their in-house issues.

Mwami’s actions were however supported by the constitution that calls for clubs to offer their delegates and also gives a provision for nominations in the assembly as seen below.

Though KICC returned with Shukla and Hanumant Katkar as their delegates, there was no doubt when the former polled no vote that the Dr Sudhir Ruparelia-led club had hatched up a plan to swing the vote, which could have ended in a loathed draw. This development caught the assembly off guard given some Mukesh posters been littered in Sun Lounge room of Mukesh prior to the meeting. But there were no prizes for guessing whom they had voted when they celebrated Badu’s victory louder than anyone else.

“We are ready to take responsibility of our duties and actions. We shall bring peace in cricket through high levels of transparency,” Badu promised in his victory speech reading right through the mood of an assembly that gave their auditor George Ndiko a tough time consequently declining to return him for another term.

Incumbent Jeremy Kibuukamusoke was a lightweight for Eric Kamara, who outmuscled him 12 to 4 votes in the race for secretary. Ansasira and Kamara are scheduled to appoint the heads of the different serving committees including but not restricted to finance, technical, games, disciplinary and marketing, among others.

RULE OF LAW Any two members of an affiliated Club may propose candidates to take up offices by notice in writing to the Secretary at least seven days before the date of the meeting, and the Secretary shall forthwith post the same in the Association premises, with the exception that further nominations to offices can be made on the floor at the time of election, subject to the different Club’s rights created herein.